A Pantry is Reborn!

It's been a busy weekend here at Sweet Bee Cottage.  It was time.....to meet my nemesis.

Sure it looks like an innocent chalkboard pantry door, but .... behind it lurked ..... Messopolis!  A land where nothing was organized and things were stuffed in willy-nilly.  A place no one wanted to go.  

See what I mean?

Well it needed painting but that wasn't in the plans...yet.... but I had to do something to make it fresh and  - well - cute.

You just know the Cricut is coming out for this -

I (or I should say the Cricut) cut out scallops which Baby Bee then folded.  We taped those to the edge of the shelf.  It still needed something. Then I remembered - I had some Susan Branch shelf liner hidden away.  Just what those shelves needed!

It was now reorganization time - oh boy! (No, I DO really like to reorganize things.  It gives me some kind of warped joy.)

Now all the appliances - except the precious espresso maker and toaster - are all living in the pantry.  Pots and pans too.  

I even made labels.  Yeah!  I love making labels too. 

 

Isn't it pretty?

Worker Bee, Baby Bee, and I just keep walking by and peering inside - transfixed by the organizational nirvana within its walls.  

It was worth the effort!  Oh and you know how it goes - not only did the pantry get cleaned out but so did most of the other cupboards and drawers.  I even got my new spice cabinet hung.  I'll be sure to post on that soon.

Well thanks for coming by and seeing what we were up to this weekend.  It took a lot of lattes to get the job done.  I made an extra one for you.

Oh and bonus points for those of you who thought - this doesn't go with the new color scheme for the kitchen.  I know, I know but the job needed to be done and I went with what I already had - the bones are there for when I'm ready for the complete transformation.  

I've joined the party at Cottage Instincts for

I hope you can stop by and check out what others have made.
So glad you stopped by!

More Vintage Cottages

This is definitely a collection.  Good thing I don't collect real houses like I collect sweet little needlepoint cottages.

I bought both of these on ebay.  I don't see them around much in my area, but they are abundant on ebay. The blue one started the whole thing.

Wouldn't this be a sweet cottage to actually live in? Do you think it could be in England?  The East Coast?  Maybe here in California? 

If you want to see more of my collection you can visit them here.  The truth must be told here - I keep these in my bathroom too.  I am sure needlepoint preservationists are fainting away at that, but they gotta' live where they get to be seen - and everyone gets to see them in the bathroom!  

It's Show and Tell today at Cindy's Romantic Home.  I'm sure you'd enjoy a visit with some of the other participants.  

Vintage + Bouquets = Year Round Cheer

What is it about the colors they used in the 1940s?  They always seem so doggone cheery!

Well this sweet little bouquet is from 1942.  She was sitting in a little antique store for about $10.  How could I resist her?  (Yes, I know I tend to personify objects in my home - I can't help it - I get so attached.)

She's now living in our library.  (It sounds grand but it's really just our old dining room that was TOO small for comfort.)  Doesn't she add a bit of cheer with all those serious books?

Thought she might enjoy a little outing for Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by the wonderful Colorado Lady.  I hope you have a chance to see what others are sharing.

Oh and look what got missed during the GREAT CHRISTMAS CLEAN UP.  Why, yes, it is a sweet little vintage Christmas ornament just sitting all by itself on the bookshelves in the "library".  It's one of two I was able to get from my grandparents after they passed on.  And I thought I was all done with Christmas.  Do you find you always miss putting away a thing or two after Christmas?

As always I enjoyed our little visit.  I'm getting ready to make a latte, would you care for one?  Well, maybe next time.

Sweet Rednesday

Here's a little sweetness for Rednesday and Valentine's Day.

This sweet little painting shows one of my favorite flowers - geraniums (or to be more precise pelargoniums).

She still has $1 price tag on her.  I don't know how old she is but she seems to have a vintage look to her.  I know it's not polite to ask her age so I won't.

She needs a new little frame (this one is held together with a wish and stern look) but isn't she sweet?

One more treasure to share....

What would we do without Target?  I know my life wouldn't be as cute without it.

This charming platter is from Target about 3-4 years ago.  Don't you love it's vintage style?  I know I do!  I can't wait to get it out every Valentine's Day.

Happy Rednesday everyone!

May your garden soon be overflowing with flowers as pretty as mine and your mailbox filled with the sweetest vintage valentines.

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to check out the other lovely Rednesday participants that Sue so graciously hosts at It's a Very Cherry World.

The Spice (Cabinet) of Life

Here's a little treasure I found this weekend at my local consignment store.  I find the greatest things there.

I've been looking for something to fit on a certain wall in the kitchen to put some of my spice jars in.  I've found many cabinets that would be perfect, but -and there's always a but - they were all a little bit too big.  However, on Saturday I hit gold.

Okay, not loving the fabric back, but that's easy to change.

Don't you just love this little knob?  It's what sold me on this cabinet.  Why does it speak to me?  I wish I knew but it had me at ....well cabinets don't speak, but if it did, it would have had me at "Hello."

Here it is propped against some cabinets filled with a few of my spice jars. 

I'm looking forward to getting this redone and hung.

So glad you stopped by.  Your visit is such a treat.  Your comments just make my day!

Meet Charlotte

Baby Bee was given a homework assignment - create a three dimensional character from Charlotte's Web.  Well I was inspired by all the Liquidambar (yes, I checked the spelling on that) balls rolling around our front yard so Baby Bee and I got to work.

We painted.  We glued.  We put beads on.  We cut and bent chenille stems.

And the piece de resistance - a web that says, "Terrific."

Presentations were made on Friday and Baby Bee did great.

Edited to add:  How did we make the web?  Baby Bee drew what she wanted the web to look like.  We laid it under some kitchen parchment paper and I happened to have some silvery glitter paint that we traced the design with.  We tried this with wax paper first but the paint just ran together.

So nice of you to drop in.  I'll be happy to make you a nice cup of tea next time.  Just let me know how you take it......

Oh boy! I'm linking up with Cindy at Cottage Instincts for

Thanks for stopping by!

Blue, White, Cream(er)

Today I'm linking up with Cindy at My Romantic Home for a little show and tell. I hope you can stop by and see what everyone is sharing.

I love creamers.  They just pull me in.  I especially love blue and white creamers.

I thought I'd share with you today three of my collection.  One is vintage, the other is only vintage if you were born after 1989, and the third was made in 2006 so it's not even vintage to Baby Bee.

This is the vintage one.  I believe it's called custard glass but it's the only piece I have like it so I don't know a lot about it.  Do you know more about it?

This is one of my favorites.  It's Laura Ashley Chintzware from 1989.  I picked it up at a local consignment store.

This last one I'm sharing today is not old and I believe I bought it at Marshall's.  It's called Petite Rose Blue by Roy Kirkham.

Do you know any stories about my sweet little creamers?

Thanks for stopping by.  It's always so fun when we can have a little visit.

G...o....i....n.....g t..h..r...o....u...g..h.... w...i...t...h...d...r......

.....awl.

Whew!  I'm back in blogland - if only for a few short minutes.  Haven't had time to do much visiting and haven't had much time to post.  Sometimes that job just gets in the way of all my fun!  Sure have missed you all, but I needed to concentrate on some new lessons and lesson revisions.  Each year I try to do a better job than the previous year.   (Sorry kids I had about 15 years ago - I'm a much better teacher now.)   Plus Baby Bee and I are working on a little Charlotte's Web project.

Anyway, I just wanted to say "Hi! How's it going? Want to go for a coffee?"

Yummmmmmmm.....

Just had to share how absolutely delicious Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon was (and will be----leftovers, yeah)......

It was worth the effort.

We Have a Winner.....and Boeuf Bourguignon

It smells just divine in my kitchen right now.  Do you want to know why?  Well you know I'm going to tell you anyway.

Did you see the movie Julie and Julia?  Worker Bee and I saw it this summer and I've been slightly obsessed with Julia Child ever since.  I never watched her shows but now if I see something about Julia I must check it out.  So for Christmas I asked for Julia Child's Mastering the Fine Art of French Cooking -and- I got it.

Then I got scared.  I thought, I can't possibly cook anything in this cookbook.  I mean, I'm a pretty good cook, but I haven't attempted very many complicated recipes.  So I didn't even crack the book open.  It just sat there looking reproachfully at me.  I could hear it saying, "You wanted me.  You asked for me.  Why won't you pay any attention to me now?"  I ignored it.

Then, the weatherman predicted stormy weather for the next week.  (Which to us in California is like getting a blizzard in Nebraska - we hunker down.)  I got to thinking - what would be super delicious on a day like today?  Why Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon!  It's a three day weekend after all and you can get your grading done on Monday.

So, it's in the oven right now, simmering away.  It smells so absolutely delicious and perfect for a day like today.   I'll let you know if it tastes as delicious as it smells right now!

*********************

And now I get to announce the winner of my little spa-like giveaway ............(drum roll please)........

The charming book Chin Deep in Bubbles, a pair of spa socks, and a bath fizzy is going to......

- from Sugar, Spice & Southern Life!

I know she can use it with the upcoming wedding preparations for her daughter.

Thanks again for stopping by for a visit.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

I adored you when you first came to live at our house.  I was so grateful to Sewing Bee for finding you for me.  You looked so fresh and sweet at the start.  But, I say this with a heavy heart, it is time for you to go.  I'm not sure when this will happen, but I wanted to prepare you.  We had a good run, didn't we?  It's been eleven years.  (Holy Cow!  I can't believe I've had you for that long.)

I've been seduced.  It's hard for me to admit this to you and maybe we can blame the internet, but you just aren't as attractive as you used to be.  I keep seeing newer fresher colors and ideas on the blogs I visit.  Yes, we can blame the internet for this.  I am so sorry.  My friends don't understand how we can be coming to an end, but it's time.  They haven't lived with you for 11 years.

You should know that the new inspiration is already living here with us.  I've been keeping it in the closet for awhile now, but Worker Bee is getting on board and I need to bring it out in the open.  I've been buying it little trinkets all along now.  You'll always be in my heart and in lots of photographs.

It's not you, it's me.

I'll let you know when the final good-bye will be.  Thanks for being so understanding.  Please don't let the living room know about this yet, 'cause it's next.

P.S.  Want to see the new guy?

********************

Oh dear I was so emotionally distraught talking about my break up I forgot to mention my giveaway.  Today at midnight is your last chance to win a spa-like giveaway.  Just leave a comment here to be entered.

Thanks for dropping in for a chat.  What do you think of the future changes?